Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a nightly video address on Thursday, the 7th of March, that he had approved the nomination of former army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi as ambassador to the UK, confirming Zaluzhnyi’s commitment to the diplomatic role, reports Reuters.
Zaluzhnyi was replaced last month by Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the ground forces.
Zelensky said Ukraine’s foreign ministry had sent the request for approval and that
“our alliance with Britain will become even stronger”.
In a statement on state television, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba revealed that President Zelenskyy was intensively searching for a candidate for the post of ambassador to the UK. Given Britain’s leading role in providing military assistance to Ukraine and its strategic vision, the ambassador chosen needed deep military experience, Kuleba said.
Ukraine has not had an ambassador to the UK since Zelenskyy fired former envoy Vadym Prystaiko in July 2023 after he publicly criticised the president.
In a meeting with British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in Kyiv on Thursday, President Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the UK’s leadership and support against Russia. A British government statement said that Shapps announced 325 million pounds of military aid to Ukraine, including more than 10 000 drones.
In his address, Zelenskyy said that priority areas for cooperation include strengthening air defence, long-range weapons, and artillery, as well as joint arms production and holding Russia accountable.
Zelenskyy welcomed the historically unprecedented level of cooperation with the UK, referring to its role as the first of several countries to sign an agreement to provide security guarantees to Ukraine.
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